Suspension and marking device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a suspension and marking device for vessels, having at least two foil layers, at least an adhesive coating and at least a suspension opening, wherein the device at its one end has at least two foil layers separated from each other which, on their sides facing each other, are each coated with adhesive and that through the weakening of at least a foil layer at least a defined folding-over zone is formed.

The present invention relates to a suspension device with marking function. Specifically it concerns such a suspension device for flexible foil bags, primarily in the pharmaceutical industry.

Such foil bags are used for example to provide infusion or transfusion fluids, specifically for albumins or other blood plasma products. Because of the valuable and expensive content, plasma products are customarily packaged in small dispensation quantities (50 or 100 ml). As a result, the drug manufacturers and/or fillers are faced with the problem of marking a highly developed pharmaceutical product in accordance with its value with the help of suitable marking devices so that the following requirements are satisfied:

1. The surface of the foil bags is flexible, customarily already filled at the time of marking and it is therefore difficult to glue on conventional pharmaceutical labels so that a sound glued joint with the foil bag can be established. Because of the flexibility of the foil bags it cannot be ensured as standard with conventional labeling that a certain adhesive force on the substrate is achieved. A marking device is therefore to be provided which adequately adheres to the foil bag and can be applied so that there is no doubt that these adhesion characteristics have been achieved.

2. Because of changing marking regulations or different export provisions it is often necessary to again remove the marking device from the foil bag if required without destruction of the foil bag and without excessive efforts. A simple direct information print on the foil bag is therefore excluded.

3. Despite the small surface of the foil bags it must be guaranteed that all relevant product information such as product name, expiry date, batch details, side effects, constituents, etc. are provided on the foil bag so that the end and, if applicable, the intermediate user such as hospitals always have direct access to all product-relevant information.

Since blood plasma products are customarily pharmaceuticals which are administered by means of infusion, a combination of marking and suspension device is desired in addition to the mentioned basic requirements, as they are known for example from suspension labels. Because of this linkage of functions the requirements in terms of adhesion of the device on the foil bag are even significantly tightened.

Suspension labels in their known form (for example in EP 0356574 B1) consist of one or multi-layer labels with a suspension area and an adhesive-coated lower side which enables fixing for example to an infusion vessel. As described above, such labels cannot however be used on foil bags since the adhesive, because of the flexibility of the foil bag, does not obtain adequate adhesion over the entire surface. In addition, flat foil bag designs with suspension labels on one of the two flat sides would hang obliquely which—especially with such valuable content substances as blood plasma products—can lead to unnecessary wastage of the pharmaceutical through rests remaining in the foil bag. In addition, peeling forces act on label and adhesive which can lead to a gradual detachment of the label.

The present invention is therefore based on providing a marking and suspension device of the type that overcomes the abovementioned problems and specifically provides secure suspension and adequate space for information.

The object is solved through a suspension and marking device according to claim 1 where a multi-layer foil construction on its one end consists of at least two foil layers separated from each other, which on their sides facing each other are each coated with adhesive and the device additionally has means to expand the marking surface. Particularly preferred embodiments are claimed in the sub-claims 2-12.

The invention is described in more detail by means of the FIGS. 1-3. All Figures must be understood schematically and are not to scale. It shows:

FIG. 1 a suspension and marking device according to the invention in lateral sectional presentation,

FIG. 2 a suspension and marking device according to the invention in top view,

FIG. 3 a suspension and marking device according to the invention applied to a foil bag.

A suspension and marking device 101 is shown in FIG. 1, consisting of three foil layers 102, 103 and 104, wherein the upper foil layer 102 in the predominant area of its width shown here is joined with the intermediate foil layer 103 by means of an adhesive layer 105 and this intermediate foil layer 103 in turn is joined with the predominant area of the width shown here of a lower foil layer 104 by means of an adhesive layer 106. In the left part of the Figure the upper (102) and the lower (104) foil layer however are not joined with each other by way of the intermediate foil 103, but stand away from each other. In the state of the suspension and marking device 101 prior to being applied to a foil bag or similar vessels the two adhesive layers 105 and 106 are covered, i.e. provided with foils 105 a and 106 a on their side here presented in an exposed way, which are equipped in an adhesive-repellent manner.

In the area to the right of the place in the Figure in which the two foil layers 102 and 104 are brought together, the following elements of the invention are additionally provided: through a weakening 107 in the upper foil layer 102 and optionally/alternatively a further weakening 108 in the lower foil layer 104 a defined folding down zone is provided in the suspension and marking device 101. A weakening for example can be a punching or perforation of one or several foil layers or an embossing or other mechanical thermal or chemically induced deformation. Alternatively to the weakenings in the outer foil layers 102 and 104 a further advantageous embodiment is the weakening of the middle foil layer 103 (not drawn), also for example with the help of punching, by means of which the course of the foil layer is interrupted. This version has several advantages: The weakening is not easily detectable from the outside and does therefore not interfere with the aesthetic appearance of the suspension and marking device. Moreover, the two outer foil layers serve for the improved stabilization of the entire composite foil.

In addition, a multi-layer structure 109 here shown schematically is provided on the top which expands the marking surface of the suspension and marking device 101. Customarily, such means for expanding the marking surface are so-called booklets, i.e. multi-layer usually folded booklets that are self-adhesive only in part areas, which with their lower side adhere to the top of the upper foil layer 102, or for example placement or “piggy back” labels: this means single or multi-layer labels which are self-adhesive at the bottom of each foil layer and that can be pulled off the next layer situated under the respective foil layer.

Finally, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a further partial adhesive layer 110 is applied to the lower side of the lower foil layer 104. It serves for the easy fixing of the suspension and marking device 101 in the second area of the foil bag (refer FIG. 3). This adhesive layer, too, is covered with a covering foil 110 a prior to being applied to the intended vessel.

The suspension and marking device from FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 in top view (viewing direction is hinted in FIG. 1). Numbering—as also in the next Figure—is analogous. The suspension and marking device 201 is generally divisible into three function areas: the fixing area A corresponds to the left area in FIG. 1, in which the upper and the lower foil layers are independent of each other: with the help of the adhesive layer on the two foil layers, this function area serves for the fixing of the suspension and marking device 201 to a vessel as directed. Function area B can be designated as folding-over area since, through the weakening 207 (analog to FIG. 1) and, if applicable, additional parallel lines of weakening in lower foil layers, the third function area, the marking and suspension area C, can be folded over. In the area C are integrated both marking elements and a suspension opening, here in form of a simple suspension eye 211. The marking elements such as prints and the means mentioned above for the expansion of the marking surface 209 are preferably provided in this area C, but, in principle, can be distributed over all function areas.

The operation and fixing of the suspension and marking devices according to the invention is explained by means of FIG. 3. Here, a foil bag 312 with a suspension and marking device applied to said foil bag is shown. The two foil layers 302 and 304 with their two adhesive layers 305 and 306 serve to “embrace” two sides of the foil bag: such foil bags are customarily manufactured from two composite foils welded together at the edge. The two sides of the foil bag are therefore defined through the two composite foils. On each of these two sides now adheres an area of a foil layer with its adhesive coating. The effect, especially upon suspension of the suspension and marking device and thus the foil bag, is that of a pincer effect. Through this type of gluing from two sides a reliable joint of suspension and marking device and vessel is therefore provided which essentially only has to absorb shear stresses and hardly so-called peel-off forces. Moreover, in contrast with conventional suspension labels, the shear stresses are absorbed by two gluing areas.

In addition, the contact pressure during application can be exactly defined in contrast with applying a label from only one side: since the foil bag is simultaneously fixed from both sides and the suspension and marking device is pressed on, lateral evasion of the foil bag during application is not possible.

The foil layers which join at the top in FIG. 3 are no longer drawn separately from each other during the further course (refer FIG. 1 in this regard). Decisive for the invention is that the composite foil can be folded in a defined manner because of at least a weakening in at least a foil layer (indicated here the mentioned weakenings 307 and 308 of the upper and lower foil layers) so that the suspension and marking device is again guided to the foil bag with the help of the partial adhesive layer 310 at the bottom or similar types of means for fixation to the substrate, and attached there.

Shown here is a means for expanding the marking surface 309 on the side of the suspension and marking device facing away from the foil bag. However it can also be advantageous to position this element on the other side of the composite foil or on both sides—depending on the space required.

Secure fixing and expansion of the marking area is achieved with the suspension and marking device according to the invention. In addition, the foil bags marked in this way are not restricted in their function and are easy to stack because of the folded guidance of the devices and easy to handle. It is particularly advantageous to provide several, specifically two, folding-over zones preferably in parallel along the device, since the deflection of the composite foil in a 180-degree angle is particularly easily accomplished as a result.

Additional elements such as are known from the printing industry, specifically the label manufacturing, and from the pharmaceutical marking area, can be additionally integrated in suspension and marking devices of this type: these include for instance safety elements for product and trade mark protection or as opening proof, view window, scales or reprintable areas. 

1. A suspension and marking device (101, 201) for vessels (312), having at least two foil layers (102/302 and 104/304), at least an adhesive coating (105/305 or 106/306 and 110/310) and at least a suspension opening (211), wherein the device at its one end has at least two foil layers (102/302) separated from each other which, on their sides facing each other, are each coated with adhesive (105/305) and that through the weakening (107/207/307 and 108/308) of at least a foil layer at least a defined folding-over zone is formed.
 2. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein at least two defined folding-over zones are formed.
 3. The suspension and marking device according to claim 2, wherein at least two defined folding-over zones are formed in parallel.
 4. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is a punching or perforation.
 5. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein the weakened foil layer on both sides is covered by at least a further foil layer.
 6. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein the device has at least a means for expanding the marking surface (109, 209, 309).
 7. The suspension and marking device according to claim 6, wherein at least a means for expanding the marking surface (109, 209, 309) comprises at least a foil or paper layer which is applied to the foil layers.
 8. The suspension and marking device according to claim 6, wherein the means for expanding the marking surface (109, 209, 309) is of a multi-layer structure.
 9. The suspension and marking device according to claim 8, wherein the means for expanding the marking surface (109, 209, 309) is a booklet.
 10. The suspension and marking device according to claim 6, wherein the means for expanding the marking surface (109, 209, 309) is at least a self-adhesive label that can be peeled off the next layer located below.
 11. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein the device has further fixing means for fixing to a vessel (110, 310).
 12. The suspension and marking device according to claim 10, wherein the further fixing means are an adhesive layer (110, 310).
 13. The suspension and marking device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layers are covered with adhesive-repellent foils (105 a, 106 a, 110 a). 